Spring came early this year. Before the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the remaining snow in the gaps between the glazed tiles on the roof of the veranda of Shangyang Palace had melted away. A few wintering birds were hopping around on a row of small animals on the ridge, chirping.
When the Imperial Chief Eunuch Wei Jin heard this, he pointed fiercely, and the young eunuchs quickly took long bamboo poles to drive the birds away, for fear of disturbing the emperor and several officials who were discussing matters inside.
It has been a year since Ji Yuanhao ascended the throne.
He was also a capable man. He cleaned up the mess created by the Kun family and issued several new policies in succession to eliminate malpractices and cure diseases.
It can be considered as initial success.
But it must be said that the more branches are cleared away, the longer he reigns, and the longer he is emperor, the more obvious the various constraints and hidden worries become.
It's still too slow.
Even though he is the emperor, no matter at the moment or when he is thinking deeply, there are many things that he has to take into consideration and that are beyond his reach.
First, to this day, the royal family and the royalists still do not submit to him.
Not to mention the royal family, the old Prince Su had already passed away. After Ji Yuanhao managed to suppress the royal family's opposition and ascend the throne, the old Prince Su fell ill. Not long after General Xu passed away, he also died of illness.
Without the suppression of the old clan leader, the clan members' dissatisfaction with his succession to the throne from a remote direct branch suddenly rebounded. In addition, there are the royalists. Most of these royalists were left behind by the old emperor. In other words, they had basically fought to the death with Ji Yuanhao, a disloyal member of the royal family, and were full of hatred and resentment.
In addition, Ji Yuanhao had forced the emperor to abdicate, so even if Ji Yuanhao became emperor now, it would be difficult to reverse the subjective and objective opposition.
Unfortunately, Ji Yuanhao could not eliminate these two people on a large scale. He had to adopt a gentle approach. The royal family had to be appeased, and he could only replace the royalists left by the old emperor one by one slowly. He could not be in a hurry.
With these people hindering the court, there are always bumps and stumbles. Even if something will eventually be pushed through in the court, there will always be people who spoil the fun during the discussion. A heated debate is inevitable, and in the end, the people on his side will spray back at the other side.
This process is inevitably very frustrating.
In addition, Ji Yuanhao has another very urgent concern.
After becoming the emperor, his status was elevated and his position was different, so his vision naturally changed. Ji Yuanhao now has his eyes on the entire Daqing.
What is the most important thing for a dynasty or an emperor?
Of course it is the imperial power, and more directly it is the military power.
It's not just the imperial guards in Yangdujingying, more importantly the camps in various places and the northern border.
Where is the most powerful army of the Daqing Dynasty? Of course, they are the garrisons that have been brazenly fighting against the enemy on the western and northern borders for many years.
Ji Yuanhao ascended the throne with the tiger talisman in his hand, and of course he had the military power, but to be honest, he was not acquainted with the generals of the Northern Army, and the latter had only heard of the new monarch but had never seen him in person.
In recent years, the throne has changed too frequently, which inevitably reduced some of the emperor's invisible prestige, causing these border army generals to adopt a wait-and-see attitude towards Yangdu, the strange new monarch.
This is inevitable, as a new emperor appoints new ministers.
Generally speaking, this problem is not a big deal. After a long time, about three, five, or seven years, this problem will disappear.
However, now that Yang Yanzong is by his side, Ji Yuanhao can't help but feel a strong sense of worry and urgency when compared with him!
Ji Yuanhao used to be responsible for assisting the Four Princes in taking charge of the overall situation in the Four Princes' Palace. Although he would personally take action from time to time, his role was more of a counselor and commander-in-chief in the rear. Until the fall of the Four Princes, he took the opportunity to take over the power of the Four Princes' Palace. However, anything related to military power was mostly in Yangdu and Jingying.
In fact, although he and Yang Yanzong had similar strengths back then, if you look closely, there are actually big differences in their composition.
Especially when it comes to the Northern Army, the gap between the two is huge.
Yang Yanzong had fought on the battlefield for more than a decade and was a real commander of troops. He was very familiar with the generals in the northern border. For example, when He Kun clan went to seek help from General Xu, it was Yang Yanzong who came forward. There was no other reason, he was familiar with General Xu.
As for the others, even if they didn't know each other, they had known each other for a long time. They were all military generals who had fought in battles for many years, so they naturally had a good impression of each other.
This is something Ji Yuanhao could not compare to. Ji Yuanhao had fought very few battles in the past ten years, and he was not familiar with the generals in the Northern Frontier. Even though he later took over some of the positions from the Four Kings, he took the trouble to maintain the relationship, but it had gradually faded over the years.
Ji Yuanhao's power at that time was more concentrated in Yangdu Capital and the imperial court.
Therefore, Ji Yuanhao now urgently needs to appease the royal family and quickly narrow the distance with the Northern Army!
In fact, there is a solution. As early as last year, someone had already mentioned it vaguely.
——That is, marriage!
Establish a queen and establish a new queen.
Now, at the beginning of the new year, this issue has come to the fore again and needs to be urgently resolved.
"…Your Majesty has been on the throne for a year now, and the new era has been established. This is a great thing. However, I think this matter should not be delayed any further."
For an ordinary emperor, if he does not change his father's ways within three years, it is not too late to take it slowly.
However, the situation during Ji Yuanhao's reign was somewhat special.
Feng Shuang did not specify who he was concerned about, but everyone present understood.
Ji Yuanhao sat at the top, staring at a certain point on the palace gate and listening quietly.
Other people present, such as Ji Yuanhao's old aides, current cabinet ministers and Minister of Rites Ling Yan and Luo Zhongyong, and his loyal subordinates Tang Xianzhou and Chen Yiqiu, were all his close confidants who had followed him for many years. When it came to this topic, they all fell silent at the same time.
He either lowered his head or drank tea, but he never uttered a word.
Feng Shuang clicked his tongue in his heart. It's not that he didn't understand why these people were like this, but in his opinion, the old mistress had passed away, which was unlucky for her. His Majesty was in his prime, and it was already very kind of him not to marry for a year after ascending the throne.
It would be fine if it were an ordinary situation, but now there is an imminent and difficult problem!
Which is more important, the overall situation or personal feelings? !
Feng Shuang had only actively approached Ji Yuanhao after he ascended the throne, so he did not have the complicated thoughts of Tang Xianzhou and others. After he finished speaking, he stood up, clasped his hands and said solemnly: "Your Majesty, you should welcome the daughter of the Xu family as the new queen! All the problems will be solved easily!!"
Marriage has always been the quickest and most effective way to build relationships.
Duke Xu's Mansion, with one foot on the royal family and the other on the Northern Army, is the best candidate!
Feng Shuang dared to assert that once Ji Yuanhao made Xu's daughter his queen, at least half of the royal family would immediately soften their attitude.
Not to mention the Northern Army. General Xu has been stationed in the Northern Frontier for half his life. He is famous and respected by everyone. It is no exaggeration to say that he is the backbone of the Northern Frontier. Many generals, big and small, were promoted by him. Once the daughter of the Xu family is made queen and becomes the grandson-in-law of the Xu family, the people's hearts will be drawn closer to him all at once.
It won’t be too late for Ji Yuanhao to summon them one by one later.
All problems were solved immediately! !
…
Ji Yuanhao sat quietly.
After Feng Shuang and others left, he sat alone quietly in the imperial study.
The sun slowly moved to the center line, and the sunlight that had shone through the door of the imperial study retreated. The huge and profound palace became a little dimmer. A young eunuch came in quietly carrying two everlasting candles and a fire, but was quietly driven out by Wei Jin who was standing by the door.
After a long time, Ji Yuanhao stood up, walked out of the palace, and unknowingly went to Fengxian Hall.
Ren's tablet is enshrined in a side hall of Fengxian Hall.
Because his tablet will not be moved into the main hall until a hundred years later, this side hall currently only has the tablet of Ren.
The brand new shrine, with a deity tablet inside and a line of gold-powdered regular script, reflects the lotus lamps and incense sticks, casting a soft glow.
Just like her, she seems to be sitting there with a gentle smile.
Ji Yuanhao slowly stroked the tablet and the column of regular script.
Since he ascended the throne, for political reasons, he welcomed many new people into his harem, such as the virtuous concubine who was the granddaughter of the chief tutor Feng, the virtuous concubine who was from the Wang family of the Duke of Dongguo's Mansion, He Zhaoyi from the Duke of Yanguo's Mansion, Wen Zhaoyuan from the Wen family of Zhenzhou, Taiyuan, and so on. Marriage was indeed a very simple and effective means with immediate results. He was able to sit firmly on the throne so quickly, and this move played an indispensable role.
But no matter what, no one has ever laid hands on this position of queen.
Someone mentioned this matter last year. After all, the emperor observes mourning by using days instead of months, so twenty-seven days is enough.
But Ji Yuanhao fought back one by one.
But today, he has to face such a choice.
——Feng Shuang’s words are still ringing in my ears: “Your Majesty should welcome the daughter of the Xu family as the new queen! All the problems will be solved easily!!”
Which is more important, the overall situation or personal feelings? !
Feng Shuang himself was the legitimate son of Grand Tutor Feng and the uncle of Concubine Feng. It must be said that he could not be said to have any selfish motives in making this remonstrance.
Ji Yuanhao also understood what the most correct choice was.
He sat alone in the Fengxian Hall for a long time, until the sun set, and finally he stood up suddenly and walked out quickly.
On that day, the imperial edict was issued, appointing Xu, the eldest granddaughter of the late General Xu and the niece of the current Duke Xu Wenkai, as the queen!
Xu Wenkai had no daughter. Xu was only seventeen years old and had not yet been engaged due to the long period of mourning, so she was waiting to be married.
…
Not long after the imperial edict was issued and before it got dark, news came that the eldest prince and Feng Shuang had a fierce argument in front of the palace gate, and the former ended up beating the latter.
Feng Shuang's tooth was knocked out directly.
"What did you say?!"
Ji Yuanhao stood up suddenly and gritted his teeth: "How can this be absurd! Hurry and bring this rebellious son to me!"
Ji Zimu and Feng Shuang came together. The latter was covering her bleeding mouth with a miserable look on her face. Ji Yuanhao quickly asked the imperial physician to come forward to treat her.
He was furious: "Is this what I taught you?! Who gave you the courage to beat up a minister?!"
Ji Zimu, however, was like a wounded beast, his eyes red: "Have you forgotten my mother?!"
"She died for you, have you forgotten her so quickly?!"
How is this possible? How is this possible? !
She had shared the good and bad times with him, from sleeping in the open air to living in fear, and had suffered all along the way until today. He became emperor, but she died. She had suffered all the hardships and had not been able to enjoy any happiness!
Her body is still warm! ! !
She could have lived, but she died tragically in the wilderness to protect him. How could his father have forgotten about her so quickly? !
"How could you? How could you?!"
Ji Zimu was extremely angry and burst into tears. Why should he establish a queen? Why let another woman occupy his mother's position? It is obvious that he can just not appoint a new queen. The queen's position can be left vacant and the imperial concubine can take charge of the harem. There are countless precedents for this in previous dynasties. !
At this moment, he really hated her: "You don't deserve it, you don't deserve her, you don't deserve her!!!"
He screamed angrily. The seventeen-year-old boy had lost a lot of weight. After his mother passed away, he seemed to have lost weight overnight. He was a little afraid of his father. None of Ji Yuanhao's children were not afraid of him.
But at this moment, Ji Zimu didn't care, hissing angrily. He struggled, and the guards were caught off guard by him. He rushed towards the throne like a seriously injured beast, hissing. The two guards were quick-witted and rushed forward to hug him, "Your Highness, Your Highness!"
Ji Yuanhao's face turned pale in an instant, and the veins on his forehead were throbbing violently. He was furious. He took two big steps forward and slapped Ji Zimu hard in the face!
“Pah—”
Ji Yuanhao said hatefully: "You rebellious son!"
"Drag him back to me, starve him for three days, and let him reflect on his mistakes behind closed doors. No one is allowed to release him until he has reflected on his mistakes clearly!!"
Ji Zimu was dragged away, and his screams soon turned into whimpers. Feng Shuang's teeth really hurt this time, so he quickly took his leave.
The huge imperial study suddenly became quiet.
Ji Yuanhao's chest heaved violently. He stood there stiffly for a while, and finally kicked the imperial desk hard!
The heavy imperial desk fell to the ground with a "bang", and the pen holder, inkstone and other items fell to the ground with a crackling sound.
He really wanted to kick Ji Zimu in the heart, but at the last moment he thought of Ren and tried hard to hold himself back.
But Ji Yuanhao was really annoyed to the extreme, and cursed: "Rebellious son, rebellious son!"
…
At this time, the imperial edict had already arrived at Duke Xu's Mansion.
The door to Duke Xu's mansion was wide open, with incense tables and candles lit, and everyone in the mansion knelt to welcome him. However, as soon as the imperial edict was read out, Xu Wenkai's brows were tightly furrowed.
Due to Ji Yuanhao's order, Xu Wenkai stayed in the capital temporarily, served as the General of Cavalry and took charge of the entire Beijing camp.
——But he followed his late father's teachings and refused to let the Xu family get involved in the muddy waters of the previous dynasty's struggle for power and favor in the harem.
However, his second brother Xu Wenyuan touched his shoulder and said, "Your Majesty's order, how can a minister be picky?"
Xu Wenkai pursed his lips, and finally, under Wei Jin's second urging, "Mr. Xu, please accept the imperial edict," he had to accept it.
After sending off Wei Jin and other angels who were selecting the imperial edicts with congratulations, he caught a glimpse of his second brother's happy face out of the corner of his eye, and he finally let out a long sigh.
…
This imperial decree to establish the empress was like a bolt from the blue, causing so much commotion in the court that it goes without saying.
Let’s talk about Yang Yanzong and Su Ci.
Yang Yanzong has not been unhappy these days. Su Ci has just been diagnosed with pregnancy and is almost two months pregnant.
He waved his hand and rewarded everyone in the mansion generously. If the child was still young and he didn't dare to disturb it, he would have probably rewarded even the manor.
These days, he is truly in high spirits and walking as fast as the wind.
So, he hurried back home as soon as it got dark, put all things aside, and went back to his room to see his wife first.
"Is this kid good today?"
Su Ci had just come out of the shower. The room was warm, and she was in no hurry to put on her coat. She leaned against the head of the bed in her snow-white nightgown. Yang Yanzong knelt on one knee on the footstool, kissed her face, then carefully lifted up her clothes and kissed her white and tender belly.
Su Ci: “…”
here we go again.
She rolled her eyes: "How do you know it's your son's?"
Yang Yanzong said confidently: "A daughter is fine, but I still think a son is better. A brother can protect his sister."
It's not that he favors boys over girls, but Yang Yanzong has considered it carefully. Although a daughter is good, it would be better to have a son. Firstly, he is almost old and it is time for him to have an heir, otherwise who would be the inheritor of such a huge family business?
Secondly, his daughter is so delicate and tender, and he doesn't want a naughty brother to make her upset. Such a little girl, pretty as a fairy, was born to be held in the palm of the hand and loved, carefree, loved by her father, mother and brothers. How wonderful!
"Let's have two sons and a daughter. Two is fine!"
He said excitedly.
Su Ci: “…”
What a nice idea! Even the ranking has been arranged.
Su Ci didn't bother to pay attention to him, pushed his face aside, frowned and stroked her chest.
Yang Yanzong quickly ordered someone to bring a copper basin. He hugged her nervously and patted her back gently.
Su Ci vomited for a while before she leaned in his arms, panting, and let him help her rinse her mouth.
Su Ci's pregnancy reaction was a bit strong, which was why she was confirmed to be pregnant so early. Otherwise, the doctor would usually wait at least two months before telling you that she was pregnant.
She was feeling unwell, and Yang Yanzong felt very distressed, so he wanted to divert her attention. Coincidentally, something big happened today.
Yang Yanzong showed an intriguing smile: "Ji Yuanhao issued an edict today to establish a new queen."
Su Ci was shocked: "What?!"
She immediately forgot about the nausea and sat up on the bed. After a while, she asked, "Who is it?"
Yang Yanzong said: "The eldest daughter of the second branch of the third generation of the Xu family."
"Xu, Duke Xu's Mansion?" The granddaughter of General Xu?
Su Ci was not an inner chamber maid who did not understand the political situation. As soon as she heard it, she understood the key point.
After getting Yang Yanzong's affirmative nod, she was stunned for a moment, "She is General Xu's granddaughter?"
"But would Xu Wenkai be willing?" According to her understanding, General Xu's character and personality were very similar to his father's.
Yang Yanzong said, "The Xu family has more than one branch."
General Xu had many descendants, including six legitimate sons, not to mention grandchildren.
A big tree has many branches. After the old man is gone, things will definitely be different from before. With so many people, it is impossible for everyone to think the same as Xu Wenkai.
"Is that so?"
Su Ci was very disappointed.
A heavyweight new queen, a step-wife that even Ji Yuanhao cannot ignore, a step-wife that he will definitely love and value very much.
A year passed, and Ren's voice, appearance and smile were still vivid in his mind, but Ji Yuanhao was already about to appoint a new queen.
——In fact, this was his first queen. Ren was only given the title posthumously. She was never a queen during her lifetime.
In an instant, it felt like there was a ball of cotton blocking my chest, unable to go up or down, making me feel extremely uncomfortable.
Su Ci felt very unhappy. Did the Ren family become a thing of the past so quickly?
Yes, no matter how deep the feelings are, they may not be able to defeat power and politics.
Being chosen or abandoned doesn't seem to be anything surprising.
However, at this moment, Su Ci was extremely melancholy and had no interest in anything. Finally, she only said, "I just hope that I can treat her children well."
…
Yang Yanzong didn't say anything when he heard this. He just wanted to divert Su Ci's attention but didn't want to make her too uncomfortable and depressed.
Regardless of Ren, she would know about the new queen tomorrow if she didn’t know tonight.
As for other things, forget it.
He held her in his arms, patted her gently and comforted her, and finally they had dinner together. He coaxed her to drink a bowl of porridge and eat a few bites of side dishes, then he carried her back to bed and let her sleep.
Su Ci loves to vomit. At first, she would vomit whatever she ate. Later, she found that she would feel a little better if she lay down after eating until she was 60% to 70% full.
Yang Yanzong also lay down on his side and stayed with her for a while. Su Ci had been a little sleepy lately, so no matter what her mood was, she would fall asleep soon after lying down.
Yang Yanzong stood up carefully, lowered the bed curtain to one side, and carefully adjusted the angle so that the light would not hurt her eyes, but the maids would be able to see her.
He gave a few instructions to take good care of her, then got up and went to the outer study.
At this time, the specific news from the palace had come back. Ji Zimu was slapped in the face and taken back to the bedroom for solitary confinement. Yang Yanzong took the secret report, glanced at it, and raised his eyebrows.
——The secret report was very specific and detailed, starting from the palace gate, to the scene he saw from a distance when he looked at the door of the imperial study which had not been closed in time, the slap in the face, and Ji Zimu's angry screams, all the way to being covered with his mouth and taken back to the bedroom. The eldest prince was extremely emotional.
Wow, that’s quite interesting.
Yang Yanzong didn't mind fanning the flames to deepen the gap and bury a few more nails.
After all, Ji Yuanhao’s eldest son is an interesting identity, and it may come in handy in the future.
When Yang Yanzong walked out of the main courtyard, the smile on his lips faded. He narrowed his eyes slightly, thought for a moment, waved to Achuan to come over and whispered a few words.
Achuan immediately took the order and left.
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